1. Academic Validation
  2. Synthesis, pharmacological evaluation, and mechanistic study of adefovir mixed phosphonate derivatives bearing cholic acid and l-amino acid moieties for the treatment of HBV

Synthesis, pharmacological evaluation, and mechanistic study of adefovir mixed phosphonate derivatives bearing cholic acid and l-amino acid moieties for the treatment of HBV

  • Bioorg Med Chem. 2019 Aug 15;27(16):3707-3721. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2019.07.012.
Tao Li 1 Jing Li 1 Yang Yang 1 Yilin Han 1 Dirong Wu 1 Tao Xiao 1 Yang Wang 1 Ting Liu 2 Yonglong Zhao 1 Yongjun Li 3 Zeqin Dai 4 Xiaozhong Fu 5
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, Guizhou, PR China; School of Pharmacy, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, PR China; National Engineering Research Center of Miao's Medicines & Engineering Research Center for the Development and Application of Ethnic Medicine and TCM, Ministry of Education, Guiyang 550004, Guizhou, PR China.
  • 2 State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, Guizhou, PR China; School of Pharmacy, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, PR China; Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, PR China.
  • 3 State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, Guizhou, PR China; Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, PR China; National Engineering Research Center of Miao's Medicines & Engineering Research Center for the Development and Application of Ethnic Medicine and TCM, Ministry of Education, Guiyang 550004, Guizhou, PR China.
  • 4 State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, Guizhou, PR China; School of Pharmacy, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, PR China.
  • 5 State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, Guizhou, PR China; School of Pharmacy, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, PR China; National Engineering Research Center of Miao's Medicines & Engineering Research Center for the Development and Application of Ethnic Medicine and TCM, Ministry of Education, Guiyang 550004, Guizhou, PR China. Electronic address: xiaozhong_fu@sina.com.
Abstract

The deficiency of nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) as anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) drugs in clinical use is attributable to their insufficient enrichment in liver and non-target organ toxicity. We aimed to develop potent anti-HBV adefovir derivatives with hepatotrophic properties and reduced nephrotoxicity. A series of adefovir mono l-amino acids, mono cholic acid-drug conjugates were designed and synthesized, and their Antiviral activity and uptake in rat primary hepatocytes and Na+-dependent taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide (NTCP)-HEK293 cells were evaluated. We isolated compound 6c as the optimal molecular candidate, with the highest Antiviral activity (EC50 0.42 μmol/L, SI 1063.07) and highest cellular uptake in primary hepatocytes and NTCP-HEK293 cells. In-depth mechanistic studies demonstrated that 6c exhibited a lower toxicity in HK-2 cells when compared to adefovir dipivoxil (ADV). This is because 6c cannot be transported by the human renal organic anion transporter 1 (hOAT1). Furthermore, pharmacokinetic characterization and tissue distribution of 6c indicates it has favorable druggability and pharmacokinetic properties. Further docking studies suggested compounds with ursodeoxycholic acid and l-amino acid groups are better at binding to NTCP due to their hydrophilic properties, indicating that 6c is a potential candidate as an anti-HBV therapy and therefore merits further investigation.

Keywords

Adefovir; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatotrophic properties; Nephrotoxicity; Organic anion transporter 1.

Figures